CVE-2024-50235

Local kernel memory corruption via stale cfg80211 pointer

Published Nov 9, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

A double free in the Linux kernel cfg80211 subsystem allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via crafted netlink commands. The unregister path in net/wireless/core.c frees wdev->cqm_config without clearing it, leaving a dangling pointer when the same wireless device is re-registered in another network namespace. Reachability requires local generic-netlink access and the device lifecycle sequence; the second free can panic the kernel or enable kernel-memory disclosure and modification.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

A double free in the Linux kernel cfg80211 subsystem allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via crafted netlink commands. The unregister path in net/wireless/core.c frees wdev->cqm_config without clearing it, leaving a dangling pointer when the same wireless device is re-registered in another network namespace. Reachability requires local generic-netlink access and the device lifecycle sequence; the second free can panic the kernel or enable kernel-memory disclosure and modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-50235
Published
Nov 9, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-415, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 9, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=32fb9b7d98c3e586bddfb978d383aa8d2b1211bc
  2. Affected versionversion=37c20b2effe987b806c8de6d12978e4ffeff026f <64e4c45d23cd7f6167f69cc2d2877bc7f54292e5
  3. Affected versionversion=37c20b2effe987b806c8de6d12978e4ffeff026f <6c44abb2d4c3262737d5d67832daebc8cf48b8c9
  4. Affected versionversion=37c20b2effe987b806c8de6d12978e4ffeff026f <d5fee261dfd9e17b08b1df8471ac5d5736070917
  5. Affected versionversion=6.1.57 <6.1.116
  6. Affected versionversion=6.5.7 <6.6
  7. Affected versionversion=6.6
  8. Affected versionversion=c797498e860e9a435a651bbf0789433684ce6dd8 <ba392e1355ba74b1d4fa11b85f71ab6ed7ecc058

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=32fb9b7d98c3e586bddfb978d383aa8d2b1211bc; version=37c20b2effe987b806c8de6d12978e4ffeff026f <64e4c45d23cd7f6167f69cc2d2877bc7f54292e5; version=37c20b2effe987b806c8de6d12978e4ffeff026f <6c44abb2d4c3262737d5d67832daebc8cf48b8c9; version=37c20b2effe987b806c8de6d12978e4ffeff026f <d5fee261dfd9e17b08b1df8471ac5d5736070917; version=6.1.57 <6.1.116; version=6.5.7 <6.6; version=6.6; version=c797498e860e9a435a651bbf0789433684ce6dd8 <ba392e1355ba74b1d4fa11b85f71ab6ed7ecc058

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-415Double Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo